‘The standard you walk past is the standard you accept’

The focus of debate: PM Rudd ‘pats’ a woman with disability on the head.

This picture of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ‘patting’ a woman with disability on the head during an event to mark the official start of DisabilityCare (formerly the National Disability Insurance Scheme) this week has sparked discussion among disability advocates, and an online tête à tête between those who feel the PM lacked respect, and those who think the whole thing is a storm in a tea cup.

We are a society that treats people with disabilities with condescension and pity, not dignity and respect. You don’t need to look much further than the new title of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, DisabilityCare, to see that.

We are also a society fiercely protective of our right to be condescending and pitying towards disabled people, because society views disability as being necessarily and routinely pitiable.

Others have considered much of the response to the ‘incident’ to be an over-reaction. Leading the ‘over-reaction’ team is journalist and commentator Joe Hildebrand. Some of his Twitter exchange with Ms Young is below.

Mr Hildebrand has since written an opinion piece in The Telegraph. The headline ‘Exclusive: Kevin Rudd hates disabled people – the incredible proof inside’ is a pretty good indication of what the rest of the article is like. But, in the name of balance, this is a sample of the article.

It is fair to ask that if a smiling Prime Minister and a laughing woman embracing each other to celebrate the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme leaves Stella “shaking with rage”, what exactly does it take to make her happy?

One unfortunate conclusion is that she never will be. Rather that she, like many on the extreme left, and indeed the extreme right – neither of which are any friends of mine – will never be happy. Instead both sets of malcontents seem to prefer to pore through any trough of information searching for things to be upset about.

The microscopic banality of this outrage was so idiotic that only a fool would enter into it, and so naturally I did.

For me, the debate brings a recent comment made by Australia’s Chief of Army David Morrison to mind.

Speaking about a series of controversies that have undermined the Australian Defence Force, Lieutenant General Morrison said: ‘The standard you walk past is the standard you accept’. His entire video address is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen for a very long time.

Lt Gen. Morrison’s message resonates with this disability discussion. For me, it’s about respect. If we accept the PM meant no harm, which I’m sure is the case, should that stop us from drawing the issue to his and everyone’s attention?

If no-one says: ‘Hey, that’s not on. That’s not respectful. That’s not equality’ – then it will happen again.

It’s no different to not challenging people when they use the ‘R’ word or ‘tard’ to describe themselves, friends, or anyone. It devalues, and it embeds a flawed societal standard.

This is a case of a picture making the story. What was the context of situation. It is interesting to know what I could do with a photo of someone walking past my desk (as happens) and patting me on the head or pushing my shoulder while saying sit up straight with a concerned look on there face. This is not a story, especially in the current political environment. And for me it is exactly as stated – “The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.” This is not a story, it’s a distraction from the real story.